County director in Hollywood talks

Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 11:00AM BST.

A Bafta-winning director from Shropshire could be Hollywood-bound after being wooed by some of the world’s biggest film studios.

Otto Bathurst has just returned to his London home after visiting Los Angeles for a series of talks.

He has been asked to direct major movies, after scooping a Bafta last month for his acclaimed BBC1 TV serial Criminal Justice, which starred Shropshire’s Oscar-nominated actor Pete Postlethwaite.

Mr Bathurst, whose family still live in Bridgnorth and Tenbury Wells, said he was considering eight or nine projects, although no final deals had been signed.

He said: “There has been a wooing process with the studios. I’m looking at a variety of potential projects, there are a number of films in development. The thing that interests me most, however, is the quality of the scripts.

“I wouldn’t want to do big movies for the sake of it. I’m happy to make big movies or smaller TV programmes, it’s all down to the quality of the writing.”

Mr Bathurst as made a number of highly-rated programmes, including Teachers and Hustle. He has become hot property in Hollywood due to his Bafta success and a number of film companies are keen to work with him.

He said he is presently working on a biopic of ballerina Margot Fonteyn, which will be shown on BBC 2 and BBC 4, and “there are a number of options once that has finished”.

View more: Pete Postlethwaite news.